Local News

FM rec staff highlights department offerings

Part of 'Getting to Know Your City Departments' series

Fort Morgan has much to offer people looking for something active to do.

That was one of the take-aways from the Brown Bag Lunch on Tuesday at Fort Morgan Library & Museum.

The Fort Morgan Recreation Department has a wide variety of programs and facilities which residents can take advantage of to get them up, out and moving.

Recreation Superintendent Jay Cochran was the speaker at the Brown Bag Lunch, although she shared the spotlight with two of her staffers during the latest in the "Getting to Know Your City Departments" series.

Cochran explained that the recreation department included the Armory Recreation Center, the Community Swimming Pool, Fort Morgan Senior Center and all the programs at these facilities, plus youth and adult recreational sports programs.

The recreation staff at the Armory handles the registrations for all of the youth and adult sports programs, Cochran said, and "the majority of the volunteers for the youth programs come through the Armory."

Volunteers have to undergo background checks and get training in both recognizing signs of concussions and child safety, including noting and reporting possible child abuse, she explained.

Once the kids or grown-ups are registered for a program, staff sets up leagues and the game schedules. Recreation staff also runs the games and serves as site supervisors, Cochran said.

The Armory also has a number of classes and programs that people can join, and it has the basketball court, fitness equipment and walking track.

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The recreation center is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer and until 9 p.m. in the winter.

Swimming pool

The swimming pool is another city recreational facility.

Lifeguard Samantha "Sam" PettyJohn is one of three pool managers this summer, and Cochran had her explain how things work at the pool.

She explained how swimming lessons and the guard start programs work, as well as how she became a lifeguard and now a pool manager.

PettyJohn said she had to take many swimming lessons and then complete the guard start program, which she did three years ago.

In the summer, the pool is open every day for day swimming, the Swim and Stay Fit program and night swimming.

Private pool parties are held on weekend evenings, she said.

The cost is pretty low to swim, at $2 for seniors, $1 for ages 2 and under and $3 for ages 3 and up.

There are swimming lesson classes and the water aerobics program at the pool, too, she said.

The pool will close in mid-August due to the lifeguards primarily being high school and college students who have to go back to school, Cochran said.

The changes in school schedules, with earlier school-year starts and ends, have meant changes to the pool's season, she said.

There are 28 active lifeguards this season, Cochran said. Initially, the city hired 35 lifeguards, but several left for higher-paying jobs than the lifeguard positions, which start at minimum wage.

"It is a minimum wage job of begin with, but lifeguards can see opportunities for growth with time and experience," she said. For many of the guards, "they love seeing the kids and spending the time at the pool," so that "outweighs the low wage."

Cochran pointed out that she is the "oldest guard" this year.

The pool has to have nine guards "on deck" and one "in guard," Cochran said. The "in guard" rotates, allowing for rest and bathroom breaks for the guards.

All of the lifeguards follow the Emergency Action Plan, or EAP, serving as spotters and rescuers when needed, she said.

There had been two EAPs so far this summer, as of June 10, with paramedics being called for one land rescue and lifeguards handling water rescue of a swimmer in distress, Cochran said.

She pointed out that the swimming pool was a good value for parents.

Going to the movies costs $8 plus snacks for a couple hours, but kids can swim for five hours for $3, she said.

Special Events, Senior Center

Special Events and Senior Services Coordinator Jane Perkins talked about all the offerings at the various events the city hosts and through Fort Morgan Senior Center.

Annual special events include the Glenn Miller SwingFest, the BOB Stock music festival and the Fall Harvest Car Show, she said.

Part of her job is dealing with the applications and scheduling of events and facilities for these events.

"We are a huge attraction for events," Perkins said. "There are more and more every year," including lots of 5K races and walks. "Nonprofits want to host fundraisers in our community and bring awareness for what they stand for."

She said these special events are "a great opportunity to get to know people in the community and surround area" and encouraged everyone to attend them.

"We have a lot going on in the city of Fort Morgan," Perkins said.

She also helps organize the summer concert series Live @ The Park.

"With our fantastic new band shell, we're thrilled with the turnout we had for the first concert," she said. "I think a portion of that is people really do support this band shell."

Perkins encouraged her audience to "bring a blanket and picnic dinner" and enjoy the Thursday night concerts, as well as the nearby Fort Morgan Farmers' Market.

Also, at the Senior Center, "we have lots going on every day," Perkins said. "You're welcome to join us."

There are daily activities, including card games, dominos and billiards, and weekly and monthly events.

Trips also are offered through the senior center, including upcoming ones to Blackhawk and the Scandinavian Festival in Estes Park. Many of these trips are open to adults of all ages, but some are only for seniors, Perkins said.

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